6 Easy Ways to Skillfully Hang Your Art

Get your art out of the box, off the floor or out of the closet — these simple hanging strategies will let you put it where it belongs

I write about interior design and architecture, and take what I learn into my own home (you may find me sanding and painting a kitchen table on the weekends). You can find my articles, published in Apartment Therapy, Architect, Eco-Structure, GRAY, Preservation, The Washington Post and more, at lindseymroberts.com.

I write about interior design and architecture, and take what I learn into... More

Buying art or posters, or printing out pictures, is the easy part. We've all been faced with the hard part that comes next: choosing frames and mats at the art store or standing in front of a clean wall with a hammer and nail in hand. What color frames should you choose? At what height should you hang paintings? How do you do a salon wall? The first rule is to overcome your fears. Don't leave your art in a box for years, your walls bare. Just plunge in and get started.

2. Hang pieces at eye level. Most galleries hang their art at average eye level, about 58 inches high. The center of the artwork, not the top of the piece, should be at that height. This means you need to do some math: Measure the distance between the wire and the top of the frame, and measure the height of the art and divide it in half. Measure 58 inches on the wall, add the measurement of half the art's height and subtract the distance between the wire and the top of the frame. Put the nail here.

3. Hang art in a grid. Hanging a grid of photos is a great way to make a big statement while still keeping the focus on the individual photos. A symmetrical grid take some additional time and math. Have patience. Keep about 2 to 3 inches between frames.

4. Go for salon style. Start with the largest piece of art. Center it in the middle or just off the middle, and then place the rest of the art around it in a way that pleases your eye. You can decide on a layout by laying the art on the floor until you find a solution that works or by cutting out the shape of each piece of art in brown craft paper and taping it to the wall to test out ideas.

Most of the pictures with more than 5 frames hanging look very cluttered to me. My own personal taste, if I didn't have room to spread the artwork throughout the house, would be to select 3 or 4 to hang in a group, then put the others in storage and perhaps swap them out every so often.

Just the right time, about revamp our living area wall above the couch. I was inspired to have a narrow shelve running for about 3 metres and arrange art, photos and some old porcelan. Thanks for the tips

I would suggest on minimalism rather than cluttering a wall with too many picture frames. Maybe two or three memorable pics can be nicely lined up, with a bright hue on the surrounding wall to make it a feature wall !

I like the swapping idea, data1001! But I also like the idea of loving everything you own, and thereby only owning and displaying what you love. That said, I'd love to swap out art for the holidays, especially.

The end wall of my dining room is large and awkward. I have a large antique corner hutch on the left corner and would love to hang art on the rest of the wall, but if I center it, it sits very close to the hutch and if I center it on the remainder of the wall, it's offset awkwardly from the centered long table. I am considering placing the artwork on the right side of the wall to correspond with the hutch and then placing some sconces across the middle? Any suggestions?

I've been collecting art for years and way back in the day I would hang art from floor to ceiling (an idea from English country houses) or in a gallery style along a long hallway. I hung art in the laundry room and kitchen and up the stairway and in the bedrooms. In every house including this one the art fills the walls and gives you a history of my developing tastes through the years (from wonderful street scapes, seascapes and florals all the way to mountains and trees paintings). My motto is you should live with what pleases your eye and what makes you happy. If the neighbor wants one picture above the sofa or no pictures whatsoever then so be it. You do what you love because it's your life. And that's my two cents on another great houzz ideabook.

Love this article and all the comments. @morgana44, I too hang my art all over the house. Since it is my own art, I created it and have many paintings to choose from, I can switch them out for the seasons or when I change paint colors or decorating styles. Definitely love your motto and live by it! barbara-griffin.artistwebsites.com

Am I the only one who loves the look of great looking empty frames hung on wall?!? (Over the tub)
The trick is having colors and quality that compliment each other.
Another eye catching look is to have one large frame bordering gradually smaller frames in size and shape. Just make sure you start with a a great looking "hefty size" large frame...the more impressive frame acts as "the frame" for all the others and....starts the WOW factor.
Begin in thrift shops...ignore the art in the frame...made sure all the finishes work with each other...or spray paint them all one color...or colors that look playful together.
This always makes an unexpected art design...and....the "search"can become a fun way to shop with pals....you can even give your self a dollar amount...although I would not scrimp on the initial large frame for the frames.
Have fun!!!!

Nice article, but what about good art in the images you present? (I know that's not the point of the article, but as a painter, I must protest! )m Too often,promoted interiors show only blank walls, or present really graphic images when a great piece can do so much for a room! That being said, I agree about art being hung too high. I have attached an image of a salon hang plus fireplace in my own home plus the before (As we purchased the property) to show the difference good art and hanging make to a home.

Love your art, but the living room with white furniture displays the art, but the room becomes obscured by the art. I love art and the artist that create it, but as an interior designer I must say that art needs to connect with the room. It cannot take over for then it becomes a gallery. The second photo has artwork hung too high on the wall. If you will bring the middle painting 2/3rd down and the mirror in line with it, it will connect better to the items in the room. If you will move the T.V. where the sofa bench is and the bench along the wall were your art is hanging you will see a very good effect with your artwork.